NAIAS 2014: The Subaru WRX STi Maintains Status Quo

Jack Baruth
by Jack Baruth

In the words of Robert Plant, “Does anyone remember laughter?” Does anyone remember when these cars were serious business and hugely desired and not easy meat for V-6 Camrys during freeway rolls? Does anyone remember when showing up somewhere behind the wheel of a pink-trimmed frogeye STi or an Evolution VIII RS was a naked-steel statement of sporting intent? Remember when these cars cost less than the German cars that couldn’t catch ’em?

Well, anyway, here’s the WRX STi, and it’s powered by a twin-turbo flat-six making 482 horsepower.


JUST KIDDING ITS THE SAME ENGINE AS BEFORE AND IT STILL MAKES 305HP




Here’s some good news: Six-speed manual transmission, selectable center diff, Torsen rear diff, helical limited-slip in front. It’s that same stuff you loved ten years ago, in a significantly larger and softer car. The STi is differentiated by a complete bodykit including aluminum hood with top-mounted intercooler that will be immediately be thrown away by most tuners.

There’s also a harmon/kardon sound system and a flat-bottom steering wheel.

They didn’t ruin it, and that’s good. But in order to have the kind of impact on the performance world that the original STi had, the power numbers would have had to be considerably higher. As it is, Subaru can be content with probably having the edge over the fourteen-second-quarter-mile-sloggin’ Mitsubishi Evolution. Just watch out for those sedans.

Jack Baruth
Jack Baruth

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  • Thill Thill on Jan 14, 2014

    The 2015 WRX looks to be the big value.. Near Evo performance for $26K?? The STI has some welcome improvements but they should have updated the engine. Probably will next year when the Golf R hits the US shores.

  • Adub Adub on Jan 14, 2014

    It looks cool but hasn't really improved performance since 2004. However, the price has really gone up. Brembo brakes aren't worth that much.

  • CoastieLenn No idea why, but nothing about a 4Runner excites me post-2004. To me, they're peak "try-hard", even above the Wrangler and Gladiator.
  • AZFelix A well earned anniversary.Can they also attend to the Mach-E?
  • Jalop1991 The intermediate shaft and right front driveshaft may not be fully engaged due to suspected improper assembly by the supplier. Over time, partial engagement can cause damage to the intermediate shaft splines. Damaged shaft splines may result in unintended vehicle movement while in Park if the parking brake is not engagedGee, my Chrysler van automatically engages the parking brake when we put it in Park. Do you mean to tell me that the idjits at Kia, and the idjit buyers, couldn't figure out wanting this in THEIR MOST EXPENSIVE VEHICLE????
  • Dukeisduke I've been waiting to see if they were going to do something special for the 60th Anniversary. I was four years old when the Mustang was introduced. I can remember that one of our neighbors bought a '65 coupe (they were all titled as '65 models, even the '64-1/2 cars), and it's the first one I can remember seeing. In the '90s I knew an older gentleman that owned a '64-1/2 model coupe with the 260 V8.
  • SCE to AUX "...the complete Mustang model lineup to peruse"Will the fake Mustang show up, too?
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